Showing 4126 results

Description
Item · 1937
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Postcard invitation addressed to Louis Kornberger, Esq. of 501 Avenue Bldg, Winnipeg, MB.  The one (1) cent postage is pre-printed onto this cream-coloured card stock invitation and lacks a postal cancellation.  The invitation is for a Winnipeg Board of Trade Luncheon to be held May 31, 1937, in the Royal Alexandra Hotel.  Mr. Kornberger, as a member of the Canadian Club, is invited to purchase a 75 cent ticket to hear Sir Francis Floud, C.B., K.C.B., speak on the topic of “Agricultural Aspects of the Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom.”  Sir Floud is High Commissioner, and a summary of his career in the British Civil Service is given.  He previously spoke to the Canadian Club on June 7, 1935. 

Item · Jan. 26, 1928
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A monthly publication of the Western Retail Lumbermen's Association titled "The Prairie Lumberman"(January 26 volume). Printed in colour. Publication includes cartoons, illustrations, stories, jokes, updates and news relating to the lumber industry. Publication based in Winnipeg.

Item · Mar. 13, 1909
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Book titled: "Real Estate Directory - City of Edmonton - Bulletin Press." Cover is in a dark brown, textured material. The interior contains 122 pages of listings, in chart format, of the lots in Edmonton. They have been divided geographically, i.e. River Lot, Hudson Bay Reserve, Norwood, etc. There is a brief explanation at the front of the book describing the nature and reasoning behind the book.

Item · 1916
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Black, leather union booklet, confirming the membership of H.P. Bowman in the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, local union no. 1867, Regina, Saskatchewan, issued in 1916. Includes relevant sections of the union constitution, dues payment records (filled in for the years 1923 and 1924) and 14 “clearance cards.”

Item · 1940-1945
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Poster titled: "The Mighty Forces of Labor / Back The Attack." Poster is white with a hand-drawn man in a fighting stance on the right side. The bottom contains another drawing of soldiers in a field with bombers and warships in the background. Poster is regarding the Canadian Labor’s call for support of the soldiers in World War Two. Poster indicates that space was contributed by Brewing Industry of Alberta.

Item · [after 1944]
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Poster titled: "Labor was there on 'D' day." Contains a drawing of a worker in a leather bomber jacket on the right side, and a drawing of soldiers in a field with bombers and warships in the background. Poster is regarding the contributions of Canadian Labor to the war effort after D-Day, and encourages contributions to the war effort.  A credit is given to the Brewing Industry of Alberta on the poster.

Item · 1912-1913
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Two handwritten letters from Thomas Smith of Waldenheim, Saskatchewan addressed to the Corry Hide & Fur Company of Corry, Pennsylvania. The first letter dated Dec. 19th, 1912 details Mr. Smith’s shipment of 122 pelts to the Corry Hide & Fur Company, requesting a valuation to be returned by mail. The second letter, dated Jan 2th[sic], details Mr. Smith’s receipt of a cheque from the Corry Hide & Fur Co., and his request for the return of his furs. Waldenheim, Saskatchewan.

Item · May. 25, 1906
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Four page (one folded sheet printed on both sides) document titled “Western Canada. The Western Dominion Collieries, Limited, Debenture Issue. Prospectus.” Dated, May 25, 1906. The company’s memorandum of association is printed on the final page. Document is accompanied by a one page blank application form requesting the purchase of debentures from the Western Dominion Collieries.

Part of the documents relating to the development of Western Dominion Collieries Limited, specifically the expansion of coal production near Estevan, Saskatchewan.

Item · 1875, 1920-1927
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A collection containing approximately 40 items, all in good condition, pertaining to the lease of farm land from the Hudson’s Bay Company in Rathwell, Manitoba to Alice and Olga Bell, daughters of Canadian geologist Robert Bell.  Includes a letter from Agnes Bell to her mother in Montreal, dated at Sault Ste. Marie, July 24, 1875, as well as a printed Hudson’s Bay Company document entitled “Grazing Lease, Manitoba” from 1927.  

Item · [1944?]
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Booklet titled "Money Maker Feeds and Concentrates for Poultry, Hogs, Cattle, and Horses" and containing an explanation of the development of a new United Grain Growers (U.G.G.) Feed Manufacturing Plant in Alberta, in particular the benefits of “Money maker feeds.” Content includes a projection of Canada’s farm production objectives, information on animal nutrition, and a guideline of good feeding practices. Booklet includes various black/white photograph reproductions, as well as a memoranda section that has been scribbled on.

Item · 1948
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Notebook front reads: "Compliments of National Grain Co., Ltd. Offices: Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Fort William."  Cover is red with black writing. Back cover is done in the same style and contains an advertisement for chemical and equipment solutions to weed problems. Inside front cover contains a 1948-1950 calendar. Back inside cover contains a table of freight rates. There are several lined pages in the middle for personal notes. Specialty pages include: an identification page, trucking records (blank for owner to fill in), ticket records (blank for owner to fill in), various pages for weight conversion and time of year to harvest particular crops, wheat and flour shipments, weed control advertisements, farm records (blank for owner to fill in), and a chart of the average price of wheat. Pages contain personal notes done by the owner. One (1) of eight (8) files associated with PE000892. See also Reference Number: F-7-0-0-49 through to F-7-0-0-56.

Item · 1944
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Notebook front reads: "Compliments of Federal Grain Limited. Grain and Commission Merchants. Calgary office: Herald Building. Head Office: Grain Exchange Winnipeg." Front cover is grey with blue writing, and contains a photograph of a Federal Grain Limited elevator. Back cover contains an advertisement for Federal Service Grain Ltd. Inside front cover contains an identification page. Back inside cover contains an arithmetical table and legal weights of farm crops. Interior pages contain several lined blank pages for personal notes, along with several specialty pages, including: blank storage ticket record pages, blank record of cash tickets and settlements pages, charts showing the average monthly price of wheat, table of freight rates, exports of Canadian wheat and flour, world shipments of wheat and flour, harvest times of the world, various charts to calculating measurements, and a 1944-1945 calendar. Interior and exterior pages have been written on by the owner.  One (1) of eight (8) files associated with PE000892. See also Reference Number: F-7-0-0-49 through to F-7-0-0-55.

Item · Jul. 8, 1931
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Program for the annual Hudson’s Bay Company Edmonton employees’ family picnic dated July 8, 1931. Transportation of attendees to the picnic held at Alberta Beach was by train.  Attendees were expected to bring their own cutlery and cups.  Various races were scheduled, with candy prizes for children under nine (9).  After supper events included baseball, soft ball, and pitch and putt games.  President: Mr. A. F. Little, Judges: Mr. A. S. Ramsey, Mr. L. V. Trimble, and Mr. L. H. Thorlaksson, Announcer: Mr. Jack McKay, assisted by large Sports, Entertainment, Refreshment and Transportation committees.  Identified as Edmonton by pencilled notation on the cover.

Item · 190-?
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Four printed documents, written in French, to raise investment cash for the Frank Coal Mine in Frank, Alberta. Includes:

  • "Notice sur le charbonnages The Canadian American Coal and Coke Co. (limited) connus en France sous le nom de Mines de Frank." 4 pp. Includes description of mine.;
  • "Etude sur les charbonnages au Canada.  La Canadian American Coal and Coke Co. (ltd). (Compagnie Canadienne-Americain de charbons et cokes)." 4pp.;
  • Smith, Frank B.  "Rapport sur la Canadian American Coal and Coke Co. (Compagne Canadienne-Americain de charbons et cokes)." 4pp.;
  • "Plans et Vues Photographiques des charbonages de la Canadian American Coal and Coke Co." (Canada).  4pp.
Item · 1914
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Notice from Beverages Ltd. to the Canadian Credit Men’s Trust Association Ltd., folded in thirds, with slight tearing on the edges and what appear to be thumbtack holes in the upper left-hand corner.  Notice discusses the account of a Mrs. Smith, and indicates a “statutory declaration” in connection with the account as being sent to the Canadian Credit Men’s Trust Association.

Item · [19-?]
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Booklet issued by Little Bros. Fur Sales, Ltd., detailing changes made in the business model of the company. The company had decided to sell its wares in conjunction with the Settle Fur Exchange, a move that involved a change of address and name. The booklet argues that this move will benefit fur shippers.

Item · 1917-1964
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Account book of Aylmer Griffin, recording financial transactions and holdings from 1917 to 1964. Contents are handwritten notes, written on lined pages, recoding each transaction, and the associated date an amount involved. Later pages also feature handwritten or typed sheets, glued on top of pages, which provide an inventory of stocks on hand for several given dates.
Additionally enclosed in the book are:

  • A postcard, dated 1936, and addressed to Melville Griffin in Winnipeg, which depicts the Vimy Ridge Memorial in France. A handwritten note from the sender is present on the back
  • A blank sheet of paper used for handwritten notes
  • Six dispatch notices from Osler, Hammond & Nanton Ltd., addressed to Aylmer Griffin, indicating transactions involving various securities.
Griffin, Aylmer
Item · 1953
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Historical and business ledger documenting the Winnipeg Women's Committee of the Queen's Canadian Fund efforts at fund-raising to help British citizens impacted by Germany's World War II aerial bombing during the Blitz. Includes a 2-page typed letter signed by R.B. Bennett. Winnipeg, 1942-1946.
In the signed letter, typed on Ministry of Aircraft Production and dated 1941, Bennett declines to become a patron of the Winnipeg Women's Committee as Bennett can only identified with efforts by the Red Cross.
The ledger provides some of the the names of the donors and the amounts donated. This ledger and its contents may be the only historical vestige left of this little known women's group's effort to raise money in support of homeless British people during World War II.

Item · 1913 - 1956
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

This ledger belonged to Hugo Wiesner, a Russian- Jewish immigrant, who arrived in Winnipeg in 1904. Accounts are entered in pen in a fine cursive script, ranging between 1913 - 1956. James Richardson, Acme Lumber Co. from Moose Jaw, SK; Mortimer Real Estate; Joseph Maw and boy, Ltd are some of the accounts entered. Included are two paper Manitoba Driver Licenses from 1944, for Mr. Wiesner. A curious look into the history of Winnipeg , from the viewpoint of an accountant.

Wiesner, Hugo
Item · 1885 - 1905
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A manuscript account book ascribed to Frederick Kidd, Lumsden, Assiniboia Ferry. With extensive neat enteries for what appears to be a clothing business. Companies paid out include the Ontario Button company, Charles Cockshutt Company (Toronto), The Dominion Suspender Company, The King Shirt Company, Watchorn & Co. (Merrickville), Gault Bros. & Co. (Montreal), Goodyear Rubber Company, Thomas Ogilvie & Sons and many more.
A unique item from Assiniboia, one of the provisional administrative districts from the Northwest Territories. in 1905, most of the Assiniboia was absorbed into Saskatchewan, with a small part into Alberta. Lumsden (later in Saskatchewan) was settled by immigrants from Ontario in the early 1880's. Located on the CNR, it would have been been an ideal location for a business such as Frederick Kidd dealing with the east. He made an index of the businesses at the end of the account book in 1905 which gives a good overview of clothing companies in Toronto, Montreal, Merrickville and New York.

Item · July 25, 1912
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Two reports detailing the work done and expenses accrued of maintaining the gardens and grounds of various railway stations throughout Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, and the supplying nursery. Contains 32 b&w photographs of the station gardens and nursery plants, all captioned. Photograph locations include Moosejaw, Portage la Prairie, Virden, Oak Lake, and Saskatoon. Issued by the Forestry Branch of the Natural Resources Department of "C. P. Ry. Co."

Krook, G. A. B.
Item · [n.d.]
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A finely detailed map of the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba and the surrounding suburbs. The map includes house numbers listed on the back and a smaller map in the upper right-hand corner indicating postal zones. As indicated by the legend, a space of about 4cm represents a mile on the map. On the front cover, there is also a smaller map of off-street parking lots in the Winnipeg downtown area. The maps were all drawn by Roy Pickard and distributed by the Canadian News Co. Ltd. The cost of the map at the time is marked as 50 cents.

Pickard, Roy
Item · 2 Jan. 1931
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Land lease between Stephen Hunford (Lessee), Farmer, of Markerville, Alberta, and the Canadian Pacific Railway Company (Lessor), for the land comprising the North East quarter (N.E. 1/4) of Section 15 in Township 37, Range 2, West of the Fifth Meridian.

Hunford originally purchased the land from the CPR on 26 Sep. 1919 under Contract which stipulated that, upon default by the Purchaser, the land would return to the Company. As he was in default under the original Contract, Hunford is now entering a new contract to lease the same land from the CPR for a term of one year. Under the new Contract, Hunford is now obligated to give one third [1/3] share of each crop grown on the land to the CPR.

Signed by Stephen Hunford and [M?] A. Harvey, CPR's Assistant Superintendent of Lands. Witnessed by [Jas?] McLean and J. Steedman.

Canadian Pacific Railway
Item · Oct. 1879
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Informational booklet about Manitoba and the Northwest Territories, created [by or in conjunction with] Charles John [C. J.] Brydges, Hudson's Bay Company Land Commissioner.

"The attention of two continents is now earnestly directed to the great wheat fields and cattle raising districts in the British possessions in Manitoba and the North-West. It is intended in these pages to give some information about that country, and to point out the great advantages which will result to those who desire to settle upon those prolific lands."

Includes:
The Extent of the Territory; The Productiveness of the Soil; Coarse Grains, Root Crops and Vegetables; Cattle Raising; Climate; Water Supply; Means of Inter-communication; Present Settlements; Map of the Territory [description of map only - mentioned map is not present]; Timber and Fuel Supply; Coal; Experience of Settlers; Cost of Transport for Crop; Government Grants of Land; School System; How to Reach the Country; Hints as to Capital Required; Hudson's Bay Company Farming Lands for Sale; City and Town Lots; "Schedule of lands belonging to the Hudson's Bay Company in fractional townships"; and Schedule of farms fronting on the Red and Assiniboine Rivers".

Brydges, Charles John
Item · Apr. 5, 1930
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A small collection of papers mostly about the Slavic Land Office in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The first two letters are addressed to the Davey Brothers in Westbourne, Manitoba, although one is from [J. Topic] at the Slavic Land Office and dated April 5, 1930, and the other is from W.A. Oliver at the W.A. Oliver Agencies dated November 25, 1930. The letters both discuss separate situations of the purchasing and selling of land. The remaining pages are blank listing forms for the Slavic Land Company which was located at 307 Scott Black in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The forms provide space to fill out details such as the number of acres, the farm qualities of acres, price, included equipment, and mortgage details.

[Topic, J.]
Item · 1941
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

"This is a Combined Want and Order Book. Use the reverse side of Duplicate Sheet for Memos of Goods Wanted. The White Sheet then furnishes a convenient and ready order form, and when used with carbon sheet, which will be found stitched in the back of the book, furnishes a copy of your order on Duplicate Sheet. Be sure and put your name and shipping point on order."

The book is filled out by A. C. Penner of Arnaud, Manitoba with dated lists of hardware goods to purchase.

Penner, A. C.
Item · 1906
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A booklet about Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan and “its advantages as a commercial and residential centre” in 1906. The booklet highlights some of the notable buildings and developments in Regina, the growing industry, and the general progress of the city. The photographs included in the booklet depict different parts of the city such as farm scenes, government buildings, banks, residential homes, and various street scenes. The final page of the booklet is a fallout panoramic printed photograph of a bird’s eye view of Regina. The booklet was published by The Regina Board of Trade and printed by The Leader Press in Regina, Saskatchewan.

The Regina Board of Trade
Item · 1917
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Informative promotional booklet produced by the Canadian Pacific Railway Company containing information intended for prospective settlers regarding the provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Contents:
Answers to Some Settlers' Questions; Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; The World's Greatest Field of Opportunity; For Those Who Are Not Farmers; Twenty Years to Pay $2000 Loan for Improvements; Advance of Live Stock on Loan Basis; Assistance of Experts; Western Canada's Climate; Handling the Grain Trade; Flour Milling; Grain Prices; Alberta; Alberta's Progress; Climate; Forage and Root Crops; Live Stock in Alberta; Saskatchewan; Grain Growing in Saskatchewan; Climate; Forage and Root Crops; Fruit Culture; Live Stock; Manitoba; Grain Growing in Manitoba; Fodders and Roots; Climate of Manitoba; Live Stock in Manitoba; Dairying in Manitoba; Poultry-Raising; Raising Small Fruits; Irrigation in Western Canada; "Ready-Made" Farms; What Is a Ready-Made Farm?; Loans to Home-Makers; General Terms of Sale; Townsites; Terms of Payment for Town Lots; Naturalization; Title; General Information [Public Worship; School System; Agricultural Education; Railway Facilities; Public Roads; Taxation; Voting Regulations; Rural Telephones; Domestic Water Supply; Fuel; System of Land Survey; Implements and Buildings; Investment in Live Stock; Capital Required; Cost of Living]; A Final Word; Cities and Towns [Alberta; Manitoba; Saskatchewan]; Experiences of Some Settlers' in Western Canada; and Information for Settlers [Timely Pointers on Customs, Quarantine and Transportation Regulations Affecting Settlers and Settlers' Effects Entering Canada].

Images:
Some Farm Operations [7 photographs]; Fodder Crops and Dairy Cows [9 photographs]; Western Canada Harvest Scenes [7 photographs]; The Stockman's Paradise [9 photographs]; Glimpses of Some Settlers' Gardens [10 photographs]; Scenes in the Irrigation Districts [10 photographs]; Some Settlers' Homes [11 photographs]; Typical Canadian Churches and Schools [11 photographs]; Good Sport and Good Health [7 photographs]; and "Map showing location of Western Provinces of Canada with chief railway connections".

Canadian Pacific Railway
Item · [n.d.]
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Two leaflets for Team Products Alberta in Calling Lake, Alberta, a cooperative of 500 Indigenous artists and craftspeople in those regions. The first leaflet is an information sheet for the Alberta and Mackenzie District and outlines the qualifications and guidelines for products that a person may want to sell through Team Products Alberta. The leaflet also provides instructions for how to send product samples to the company for evaluation. The second leaflet is a blank handicrafts questionnaire that asks questions regarding the seller’s product such as the inventory, price, materials being used, and community support.

Team Products Alberta
Item · 10 Nov. 2001
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A collection of documents and promotional materials regarding the development of The Properties on High Street, a condominium building in Edmonton, Alberta, and the sale of condominium units within the building, in 2001.

Folder contains:
Booklet of floor plan concepts for available units; a price list for available units [updated to 10 Nov. 2001]; a copy of the landscaping and site plans for the development; 2 posters with an illustration of The Properties development at the top and information about the building and units [Location; Residence Features; Contact Information for Vinterra Properties Inc.] beneath; 6 posters showing the floor plan concepts and listing unit features for all 16 unit styles; and 2 business cards for Vinterra Properties Inc. sales representatives.

Also includes a printed information sheet from Royal LePage Real Estate Services regarding another home for sale in Old Glenora that is not part of The Properties development.

Vinterra Properties Incorporated
Item · n.d.
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

An advertisement for a speech delivered by Howard Scott, Director-in-Chief of the social movement Technocracy Inc., at the Orpheum theatre in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan on Wednesday, October 18 (no year given). On the back of the poster is a hand-drawn graph with three paths labelled "Physical Production (curve no 1)," "Man-Hours per Unit Production (curve no 2)," and "Industrial Employment Total Manhours (no 3)." The X axis shows years from 1830 to 1950.

Item · [1911?]
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A small folded booklet titled “How the Loyal Employees of a Winnipeg Factory Supported Victory Loan On Opening Day.” When the booklet is unfolded, it reveals a B&W panoramic photograph print of a large group of employees of the Swift Canadian Company Ltd. The caption reads “500 Loyal Employees, or 94 per cent of the Swift Canadian Co. Ltd. have bought Victory Bonds– 80 per cent of these people are of foreign birth. Who can refuse to buy VICTORY BONDS.” The Swift Canadian Company Ltd, founded in 1911, was located in Winnipeg, Manitoba and was a wholesaler for a variety of goods such as meat, dairy, and poultry. Victory Loans or Victory Bonds were Canadian government appeals for money to assist in financing the war efforts for WWI and WWII.

Swift Canadian Co. Ltd
Item · [ca. 1953]
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

"The Game Laws are such that a Taxidermist's business in Alberta is impossible. N. K. Luxton will sell at cost over 1000 Game Heads which have taken old Indian traders and himself over 50 years to collect." "We will sell to you at actual cost any game head or game birds we have in our collection. Such an opportunity to decorate hotels, private halls, rotundas, and hotel bar rooms was never effered [sic] [offered] the public before."

Catalogue of taxidermy game heads and game birds offered for sale from the Luxton Museum collection by Norman K. Luxton.

Contents:
Rugs and Skins [Coyote; Black bear; Cinnamon bear; Grizzly bear]; Moose; Game Birds [Ducks; Grouse; Owls; Eagles; Hawks]; Small Game Heads [Wolf; Coyote; Antelope]; Small Deer Heads; Buffalo Robes; Golden Eagles; Buffalo Heads; Rocky Mountain Sheep or Big Horn; Rocky Mountain Goat; Elk [Wapiti].

Photographs:
"An eighth of the wall space at Luxton's Museum at Banff" [shows a man (possibly Norman Luxton) sitting in front of a wall with many taxidermy game heads mounted to it]; a different room with bear-skin rugs and other taxidermy; "Is there any more beautifu! [sic] [beautiful] decoration for a dining room or library than well=mounted [sic] game birds"; "Timber Wolf Head"; 5 mounted deer and antelope heads; 5 mounted Rocky Mountain/Bighorn sheep heads; 1 mounted mountain goat head; 1 mounted elk head and 1 mounted fish; "Our collection of Indian Antique Curios cannot be surpassed anywhere in the world".

Luxton, Norman K.
Item · May 5, 1958
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

The Report and Account of the 289th Annual General Court of the Hudon’s Bay Company which was held on May 2, 1958 at Beaver Hall in Garlick Hill, London. At the beginning of the report, there is an introductory letter written by E.F. Newlands, the Secretary of the Canadian Committee in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The report includes an outline of the events of the meeting, a list of board members, a consolidated financial summary of the company, and an address and report to proprietors, both written by W.J. Keswick, Governor of the Board. The report also includes a consolidated profit and loss account of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Hudson's Bay Company
Item · 1918-1919
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A bound copy of two volumes of the Canadian Rusyn publication, printed in Ukrainian. When translated the English, the title of each publication is “Calendar.”The first volume was published in 1918 and the second volume was published in 1919. The covers and binding appear handmade from hide. The two volumes when translated to English contain articles about current events and cultural events relevant to the Ukrainian settlers in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Throughout the volumes, there are multiple illustrations and photographs. The volumes also include several advertisements for local companies.

Canadian Rusyn
Item · unknown
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A note written to an unknown addressee. It states: "Speaking of food I would like to thank the mother’s [sic] for the goodies we have after each Sunday evening meeting, I understand you get very little help from those who should be doing this. Thanks Moms. The Norwood and Centerial young peoples groups are united on a trial basis, and it has worked out very well, you will hear more of us next year." 

Item · Apr. 15, 1882
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Handwritten letter on Grand Union Hotel letterhead, dated April 15th, 1882 by Thomas Seaton Scott (former Chief Dominion Architect) to his daughter Alice in which he reminisces, discusses being out west, offers his opinions on the First Nations Peoples, etc. Winnipeg Manitoba. --Includes a short typed biography of Scott and a transcribed selection from the letter.

Scott, Thomas Seaton
Item · 1941
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Christmas Card is white with blue writing. Front cover reads: "Royal Canadian Air Force No. 15 S.F.T.S. Claresholm, Alberta. Christmas Greetings, 1941." There is the crest of the Royal Canadian Air Force along with this writing. The interior contains a b&w photograph of a control tower, and a poem titled: "God in the Control Tower." Below this reads: "Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Gray, Claresholm, Alberta." 

Item · 1964
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Leather bound book detailing the unique account of Manitoba farm life from May 25, 1893 - Oct/Nov. 1896 for a visiting English farm laborer, John Maddock. Is a duplicated typescript with an endnote dating the typescript to 1964.  Final page contains the signature of a D. Maddock. Contains 70 leaves printed only on one side. Details John Maddock’s emigration from Ashton, Lancashire to Verden, (Virden), Manitoba.

Item · 1949-1952 
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Diary of Mrs. Olson (1949-1952). The cover is rather deteriorated and has several stains. There is a golden, round, textured seal with the words Diary 1947 printed in red. The inside cover contains newspaper clippings, including a small paragraph describing Mrs. Olson’s successful social birthday party for her husband. The content includes details on the weather, daily routines, church and other social activities, and other aspects of life as a farmwoman.

Olson, Mrs. O.R.
Item · Jan. 1947 to apparently very early 1949
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Diary of Mrs. O.R. Olson (1947-1949). The cover has Daily Universal Diary printing on it. The first page has been ripped off. Each page corresponds to a day, and the writer has divided each page into three sections so that she may use this diary for three years, although her entries for the final year (1949) are very few (she began a new diary shortly after the first few days of 1949). The handwriting is in cursive generally legible. The content describes the weather, daily routines, and events such as social visits, deaths, etc. The latter entries are comprised of a few financial records, addresses, notes, to-do lists.

Olson, Mrs. O.R.
Item · 1955-1959
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Diary of Mrs. O.R. Olson (1955-1959). Each page corresponds to a day and is divided in five sections, one for each year. Content includes details on the weather, daily routines, household chores, social events, and other aspects of farm life from a farmwoman’s perspective.

Olson, Mrs. O.R.
Item · May. 1924
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Six (6) page letter from S. Araki in Vancouver to Susuki Kenrou in Japan. Writer expresses concern over the growing American prejudice towards Japanese immigrants and contrasts it with Canada’s “stunning Japanese community.” Letter includes mailing envelope and business card. Written in Japanese.

Christmas card, bearing a photograph on the front that depicts the CPR station at Rodger’s pass. Below the image, text reads “Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year”. On the back, a pencil inscription reads – very faintly, due to the black background – “To Percy, Complements of Mr. & Mrs. Kelly, Rodger’s Pass”.

Item · February 19, 1935
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A letter written by a Mr. Rutherford to a Mr. Geo H. Moore. The letter concerns a request from Mr. Moore for reading materials. The letter is written on Rutherford, Rutherford & McCuaig letterhead. Also includes the envelope the letter was sent in.

Mr. Rutherford
Item · 1955
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Postcard addressed to Dr. R. M. Good in Point Lookout Missouri. Addressee’s name is illegible. Message states that they are at the end of a trip north, which was rough but enlightening. Photo depicts a woman and man, labelled as Dené (“Chipewyan”), standing outside of a teepee at Churchill MB.

Item · June 30, 1910
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Postcard from G. M. Burgoyne in Calgary to Rev. J. G. Goddard in Liverpool, England. Mentions a trip to Banff and a stop in Calgary prior to returning home to Ponoka. Image is a composite photo depicting a train car with a load of giant chickens. Caption reads “A carload of extra fine Alberta chickens. No. 87.”

Burgoyne, G. M.
Item · Aug. 20, 1941
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A very affectionate birthday letter written by a father, possibly Ernest William MacEwan, in Edmonton, Alberta to his one-year-old son, Ian in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The letter was written on August 20, 1941. The father wishes his son a happy birthday and explains although he can’t be there in person, he is there in spirit with his son. The letter is written on Royal Canadian Air Force stationery. The included envelope is addressed to Master Ian MacEwan, who is most likely Robert Ian MacEwan. Included below is a link to Robert Ian MacEwan's obituary.

[MacEwan, Ernest William?]
Item · Oct. 23, 1940
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A letter written on a typewriter from Walter G. Wright in Buenos Aires, Argentina to Harold Hawes in Calgary, Alberta on October 23rd, 1940. Walter inquires about Harold’s health, gives updates about the current wartime climate in Argentina, and provides some updates about their personal life as well. The envelope has a label on the side indicating the letter had been "Checked by Censor."

Wright, Walter G.
Item · Jul., 1936
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A printed letter notifying the recipient of the sender’s pilgrimage to the unveiling of Canada’s Memorial on Vimy Ridge and to the Battlefields of France and Belgium. The pilgrimage notification was signed by W. E. Marley. The letter was mailed from the Canadian Pacific Steamship, the S.S. Montrose, to Mr P.L. James in Victoria, British Columbia on July 16, 1936. The letter was also stamped in Quebec on July 18, 1936. The printed letter provides details about the war memorial structure and its significance and symbolism of Vimy Ridge. Many of the regiments that participated in the Battle of Vimy Ridge were Prairie Regiments.

Marley, W.E.
Item · 1909
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

The account of a journey from Fort Abercrombie, North Dakota to Fort Garry (Winnipeg), Manitoba and back again in 1864, reproduced and printed by the North Dakota Historical Society. A two page letter dated May 1909 from the author to the Massachusetts Historical Society, mostly concerning the translation of Indigenous names into English, is pasted into the book between the last page and endpaper.

Gilfillan, Joseph Alexander
Item · Jul. 1, 1953
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A letter addressed to Mr. Gordon Holden in Deloraine, Manitoba from the Manitoba Sanatorium in Ninette, Manitoba. The letter was written by A L. Paine, the Medical Superintendent of the sanatorium, on July 1, 1953. The contents of the letter discuss a patient named Bernice whose tuberculosis has returned. The superintendent discusses treatment options for Bernice such as a continued course of streptomycin or surgery.

Paine, A.L.
Item · Aug. 27, 1918
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

Two copies of a farewell letter addressed to Alfred Dufresne, D.V.S., from the people of the town of Gravelbourg, Saskatchewan. The first copy of the letter is written in English and the second copy of the letter is written in French. The letters were written on August 27, 1918. From the contents of the letters, the citizens of the town gathered together to honour Alfred Dufresne as a citizen and friend and wish him farewell before he departed the town for service on the battlefield during World War I. Each letter has a copper seal laid over a multicoloured ribbon in the bottom left corners and also has blank brown leaflets of the same size attached to the back of the letters.

Your Friends of Gravelbourg
PE001185 - Bronco Riding

Image is of a man riding a bronco while five other watch on horses. Engraved on image is “Steele H. Winnipeg & Calgary” and that the bottom of the image is “59532 Bronco Riding.”

Steele H. Photography
Item · 1883
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A pair of sepia toned photographs of coal miners and mining equipment around Galt Mines. The North Western Coal and Navigation Company, formed by Sir Alexander Tilloch Galt, operated in the area of what is now Lethbridge, Alberta. Captioned photo reads "Job of Coal Chutes and part of Lethbridge."

Item · c. 1883
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A sepia-toned photograph of a building with men, boys, horses, and horse-drawn wagons outside. The boys appear to be loading newspapers into one of the wagons, and there is paper mess on the dirt road, mostly in front of the door to the building. Other distant buildings are visible in the background.

Item · [c. 1880]
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A sepia-toned photograph of an aen charet, or Red River cart, pulled by a horse and stopped in front of a clothing store. A First Nations man is standing behind the horse while holding a rifle, a child is standing in the cart, and a woman is standing behind the cart with her arm on the child's shoulder. Several white men are watching from the boardwalk, one of them holding a child. Location and date estimate are dealer-provided.

Item · Jan. 1, 1895
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

A cabinet card depicting the Edmonton River Valley. On the back of the card is a handwritten message from Sérénine and Eugénie, written in French, addressed to their mother and wishing her a Happy New Year. The card was written in Edmonton, Alberta on January 1, 1895. The photograph was taken by Charles W. Mathers in Edmonton, Alberta. The handwriting on the back, which is barely legible, reads “ À notre bonne maman avec les meilleurs souhaites de bonne année, Sérénine & Eugénie. Edmonton, Alberta, 1e Janvier 1895” which translates to “To our good mother with best wishes for a Happy New Year, Sérénine & Eugénie. Edmonton, Alberta, January 1, 1895.”

Mathers, Charles Wesley
Item · Aug., 1963
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

An insurance plan of the city of Calgary, Alberta from August 1963. This particular plan is marked as Vol. 10. The plan consists of a master title page which includes a key of signs and 21 detail sheets of the city. On the cover of the plan, there is a note indicating that the plan was made by and is the property of the Underwriters' Survey Bureau, Limited in Toronto, Ontario. The copyright for the plan is registered in Ottawa, Ontario. The plan is listed as Copy No. 9 and is issued to the Legal & General Assurance Society Limited in Calgary, Alberta. Each page of the detail sheets displays various streets and buildings in the city of Calgary and the colour of each building indicates the type of construction material used for that particular building.

Underwriters' Survey Bureau, Limited
Item · Nov., 1954
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

An insurance plan of the city of Calgary, Alberta from November 1954, which was partially revised in October 1963. This particular plan is marked as Vol. 4. The plan consists of a master title page which includes a key of signs, a revision page which consists of a list of block number changes in this volume, and 45 detail sheets of the city. On the cover of the plan, there is a note indicating that the plan was made by and is the property of the Underwriters Survey Bureau, Limited in Toronto, Ontario. The copyright for the plan is registered in Ottawa, Ontario. The plan is listed as Copy No. 114 and is issued to the Royal Agencies Limited in Calgary, Alberta. Each page of the detail sheets displays various streets and buildings in the city of Calgary and the colour of each building indicates the type of construction material used for that particular building. This particular plan consists of primarily residential neighbourhoods.

Underwriters' Survey Bureau, Limited
Item · Jul., 1955
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

An insurance plan of the city of Medicine Hat, Alberta from July 1955 which was partially revised in August 1964. The population at the time of the insurance plan creation was 25,000. The plan consists of a master title page which includes a key of signs, an index, and 34 detail sheets of the city. On the cover of the plan, there is a note indicating that the plan was made by and is the property of the Canadian Underwriters’ Association in Toronto, Ontario. The copyright for the plan is registered in Ottawa, Ontario. The plan is listed as Copy No. 55 but there is no issue recipient listed. Each page of the detail sheets displays various streets and buildings in the city of Medicine Hat and the colour of each building indicates the type of construction material used for that particular building. Several pages have new drawings pasted over the originals, presumably due to the revisions. This particular plan consists of residential neighbourhoods, industrial and retail complexes, and main streets.

Canadian Underwriters' Association
Item · Aug., 1960
Part of Prairie Ephemera Collection

An insurance plan of the town of Ponoka, Alberta from August 1960. The population at the time of the plan creation was 4179. The plan consists of a master title page which includes a key of signs, an index, and 8 detail sheets of the town. On the cover of the plan, there is a note indicating that the plan was made by and is the property of the Underwriters’ Survey Bureau Limited. The copyright for the plan is registered in Ottawa, Ontario. No copy number or issue recipient is. listed. Each page of the detail sheets display various streets and buildings in the city of Ponoka and the colour of each building indicates the type of construction material used for that particular building. This particular plan consists of residential neighbourhoods, industrial and retail complexes, and main streets.

Underwriters' Survey Bureau, Limited